Halloween/Dang it again!!
Trip Start
Aug 03, 2008
1
19
23
Trip End
??? ??, 2008
Buenos Aires,
Capital Federal District,
Argentina
Sunday, November 2, 2008
So, I thought I'd update on the grand events of my life before I lose the details.
First things first: Halloween. After being relieved of my cash and all access to it on the Subte (and then finding out that my backup ATM card didn't work), I was left with pretty dire options for my Aladdin costume. I ended up destroying a button-down to create my Aladdin vest, and let me tell you, it really looked like a destroyed button-down, haha.
Anyway, it was a fun time. We went to a friend of a friend's house to get ready for the club. I brought my camera, but forgot to put in batteries so I had to steal pictures from friends to show you all. It was a pretty fun time. We were definitely a spectacle walking to the club in costumes in a city that doesn't really celebrate Halloween. The most common reaction we got (other than fearfully walking on the other side of the street) was people trying to scare us. I dig that, it's fairly halloweenish in my opinion.
The club itself was a little weak. They made some terrible DJ choices at first (picture what aliens would be jamming to on their way to Neptune...) but it eventually improved. I left fairly early though because the whole no money thing kind of brought the mood down a bit.
Saturday, John wired me some money. After getting to the western union 7 minutes before close, the lady apologized and informed me that I couldn't claim my money because the name on my passport is "Bradley Paul Piepkorn", while the name on the wire transfer was just "Bradley Piepkorn". In broken Spanish, I explained to her that we don't really use our middle name like they do here in Argentina, and exaggerated a bit to get my point across, saying I had no money, food, or a place to sleep so I really needed it. All I got was 'tough break', saying that in Argentina, she can have 3 kids named Maria but it's the middle name that differentiates them, so she legally couldn't give me the money.
Seeing that I was on the verge of spontaneous combustion, she gave me the location of another western union agent who wasn't "as strict with the rules". Who knew there were crooked Western Union agents? Anyway, I found him, and he gave me my money.
Later on Saturday was the personal music festival. After tragically losing my wallet on Thursday, you can imagine how careful I was with my wallet, making sure that I had it securely buttoned (per Grandma Bunny's suggestion) in my pants pocket during the concerts. So imagine my surprise when I realized that the button had been cut off and I had been had for the 2nd time in 3 days.
It happened during Bloc Party's concert (maybe my favorite band). I knew it was a little dangerous for my belongings because there was a bit of mosh-pit action going on. (For all you old people, it's just a bunch of people jumping and dancing and sweating on each other, it's seriously kind of dangerous). Anyway, it happened sometime during that. And for the record, I was not drinking! Not by choice, the venue was dry.
I almost fainted in anger, which is probably not normal, but I couldn't believe it. I almost had a little breakdown. It just feels really unfair because I worked really hard to get here, I don't steal from anybody, and I'm pretty alert and responsible most of the time. It's hard when you feel like you're being preyed on; it's not a feeling I'm used to having.
Anyway, Bloc Party was good, and the REM concert was pretty good too. I was definitely in a terrible mood after the whole incident, but they put on a good show considering the band members are in their 80's. One complaint I have though, is about the little speech that the lead singer, Michael Stipe, gave in the middle of the concert. It went a little something like this:
"It's no secret that we're from the United States. It's no secret that a lot depends on this upcoming election and that a lot can be changed. And it's no secret that everybody on this stage hates our government."
This of course garnered huge applause from the crowd.
For some reason, this made me really mad. Maybe it was just my state of mind (angry/bitter), but I wanted to jump up on stage and tell Michael Stipe to shove it. I'm as anti-Bush as anybody, but I thought it was really wrong of him to say that to the crowd. Call me ethnocentric, but I don't think Argentines have a lot of room to talk in terms of government. My host mom is taking her money out of the bank this week because an advisor told her the government may seize it. I'm sure he was just trying to throw out some populist statements and rile up the crowd, but I thought it was irresponsible of him. He is more than old enough to know better.
I was going to go to a futbol (soccer) game today, but I decided that I can't afford to leave my apartment after an expensive weekend of being stolen from, haha.
I don't mean to paint Argentina in a bad light, it is what it is and I wasn't in the safest areas at all times. A tourist most likely wouldn't deal with the subte system or a music festival. But as a person living here, it's frustrating to have to worry about this stuff wherever you go. It's just as bad for Argentines.
Anyway, I'll be investing in an under-the-clothing type pouch this week.
Nothing exciting planned for this week, just class, buying my tickets for Chile, but I'm sure something interesting will reveal itself along the way. :-P
Attached are just a few pics of Halloween and the Personal music festival.
